Tuskegee Student Uprising Of 1968: The Power Of Collective Action And Protest

The article from US News “Schools Close for 430,000 Students as Services Workers in LA Strike” published by US News on March 21, 2023, is clearly an example of collective action and protest to gain justice and basic human rights. Collective action and protest have played a significant role in shaping history and bringing about change. By coming together and collectively expressing their grievances, people have been able to push for changes in policies, laws, and societal norms.

Service Workers in Los Angeles decided to go on strike to protest the district's policies and practices regarding their pay, benefits, and their working conditions. The workers felt that they weren’t being treated fairly. Also, that their work contributions to the schools

The Tuskegee Institute now known as Tuskegee University is a historically black college in Tuskegee, Alabama. This is where protest took place. In the past students of color protested the administration's policies and practices that were discriminatory and unfair. The black students and faculty members demanded that the administration address multiple issues such as the lack of representation of black students and faculty members, and the poor living conditions in the dormitories. The protests gained national attention and helped to bring about greater representation of black students and faculty members at the institute. In the "Contradictions of Tuskegee Institute (1881-1960)," Dr. Brian Jones says, "Still, their presence in the historical record reveals the campus as a contested space, not just in national discourse, but within the school's community" (Jones 27). Dr. Brian Jones defines the campus as a "contested space," he even says that this is happening on a larger scale. This leads us to believe, Dr. Jones is implying that due to the vast amounts of unfairness betrothed upon Tuskegee Universities students and faculty, they are on the rise to have their voices heard and are hoping for change. He compares this to a national scale because during this time social injustice was extremely prevalent among people of color. Contested space thus clearly describe the revolt of oppressed people

The movement, which began in the 1950s and 1960s. African Americans and their allies engage in a series of protests, boycotts, and demonstrations to challenge racial segregation and discrimination. These protests helped to push for changes in the law, leading to the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Similarly, the feminist movement has been successful in bringing about significant changes in the status of women in society. Protests and demonstrations, such as the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century and the women's march in 2017, helped to bring attention to issues of gender inequality and discrimination, leading to legislative changes. Protests and collective action have also been successful in bringing about political change. For example, the Arab Spring in 2010 saw people in several Middle Eastern countries take to the streets to demand political reforms and greater freedom. These protests ultimately led to the downfall of several long-standing authoritarian governments. From the American Civil Rights Movement to the Arab Spring, people have used protests to fight for their rights and to stop injustices, have better treatment, and bring about change. These events highlight the power of collective action and show that when people come together to demand change and justice, they can